The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha
Book Summary Information
Editor: E. A. BurttEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-04-01
ISBN: 0451200772
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: NAL Trade
Book Reviews of The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha
Book Review: Helpful introduction to Buddhism
Summary: 5 Stars
Edwin A. Burtt has edited this volume, including some of the key passages from Buddhist thinking, and provided a strong introduction, placing Buddhism in a larger context. Among concepts noted in the Introduction: Brahman (Page 17: "Out of Brahman come all things; to Brahman all things return"), "atman" (Page 17: "The soul or self"), karma, dharma (Page 19: ". . .the way that man should follow in order to fulfill his true nature and carry out his moral and social responsibilities"), and so on.
On to the primary sources on Buddhism. . . . One, "The Four Noble Truths." The editor summarizes the essence:
1. Existence is unhappiness;
2. Unhappiness is caused by selfish craving;
3. Selfish craving can be destroyed;
4. It can be destroyed by following the eightfold path. . . ."
Some thoughts on "The Wise Man" from "The Way of Truth," an important document. The lines speak for themselves:
"As a solid rock is not shaken by the wind, wise people waver not amidst blame and praise"
Or, from the same document, "The Thousands":
"If one man conquer in battle a thousand times a thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors."
Or, an item from "Punishment":
"He who, seeking his own happiness, does not punish beings who also long for happiness, will find happiness after death."
And on it goes. The volume does a nice job of providing some of the primary sources of Buddhism, allowing the reader to get a sense of this orientation. If interested, this is not a bad starting point for those who want to get a sense of Buddhism. I believe that I purchased this as an undergraduate student many years ago, and I have held onto this across a multitude of moves since then.
Summary of The Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha
With its origins in ancient India, Buddhism is a system of thought that has enriched the religious lives of billions--and in more recent times, swept through the Western world as well. Now anyone who wants to learn more about Buddhism can go directly to the source, with this collection of original documents--edited, with commentary, by a Cornell University professor of philosophy.Buddha Books
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